World Matchplay: Back Reyes to get his redemption on Sunday

These two met in October last year with Reyes winning. Reyes has excelled on the European stage this year; many will remember Reyes from the World Championships where he gave MVG the fright of his life, nearly beating the world number one while averaging a monster 106.

The Spaniard has put up solid averages of 101, 97, 97 and 96 in his last five matches. In his last three European Tour appearances, he’s made two semi-finals and beaten Peter Wright, Stephen Bunting, Simon Whitlock and Daryl Gurney – some of the biggest names in darts around.

We haven’t seen much of Thornton this year. Last time out he lost to Nathan Aspinall ranked 111th in the world. Thornton’s record at the Match Play is also shocking; since 2009 he’s made seven appearances here losing in Round 1 six times and Round 2 once.

I expect Reyes to win but I’ve added Reyes to hit three or more 180s to push this bet from 4/5 to 11/10 (William Hill).

This is a very low line for Reyes to hit. He’s thrown 11 180s in his last 46 legs on stage, which equates to a 180 every four legs. I can’t see this game going under 15 legs so Reyes will have ample time to hit just 3 180s.

If you read my tournament preview – you will know how high I rate Gurney.

He beat two of the top three ranked players in the world last week in a long format so that was great preparation for him. Gurney has won the last three previous encounters these two have had 6-3, 6-4 and 10-5.

Gurney averaged 96, 102, 98 and 99 in his four matches last week.

Many, myself included – thought Benito would’ve pushed on after last year but he has been in dire form lately. He hasn’t made it past Round 2 in his last four European Tour appearances. His averaging in his last three games are worrying with his highest being 92 over a short format.

Gurney should dominate the 180 match. In his four matches at the US Masters last week he hit 21 180s over 49 games which average out at an 180 every 2.3 legs.

Benito has hit just 8 180s in his last five matches, which have lasted 48 legs, so he’s currently averaging a 180 every six legs.
Daryl Gurney to win and Gurney -1.5 180 handicap is 13/10 at William Hill.

This should be a very straightforward uneventful match with my selection, Mensur Suljovic to win with a -2.5 handicap and Under 9 Match 180s at 4/5 with William Hill.

These two actually met earlier this month with Suljovic winning 6-2.

You may laugh at this but John Henderson will and has struggled with the heat on stage. He’s not the fittest darts player out there and visually throughout his career you see how much he sweats.

As you can imagine this sweat does not help when throwing – he hasn’t won a televised match since October 2015.

The Winter Gardens is notoriously known for getting very warm on stage. This shows in his performances here as he’s only made it past the 1st Round once and last time received a heavy defeat at the hands of Gary Anderson 10-2.

Suljovic has had a solid year, he’s made two finals and a semi-final in his last four European Tour events.

Neither of these players are prolific 180 hitters – when they met earlier this month there were just three 180s.

In his last four games, Suljovic has hit 10 180s over 37 legs which is an 180 nearly every four legs. In his last five games Henderson has hit seven 180s over 46 legs, which are an 180 every 6.5 legs.

So should the game go 15 legs, you’d expect just six 180s which still gives us two maximums of wiggle room before this bet loses.